Yemen's Houthi militia captures strategic points on Bab el-Mandeb strait
Houthis seize the city of Mokha and Perim Island, tightening grip on vital Red Sea shipping route amid intensified conflict.
Quick Look
Yemen's Houthi militia has captured strategic points on the Bab el-Mandeb strait, including the city of Mokha and Perim Island, marking their biggest territorial gain since a 2022 truce.
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Why It Matters
Yemen's civil war has killed over 150,000 people. The UN brokered a truce in 2022 that has recently broken down as fighting intensified.
Yemen's Houthi militia captured strategic points on the Bab el-Mandeb strait, one of the world's most important shipping routes.
In addition to the Iran-backed group's takeover in the city of Mokha yesterday, the Houthis have now also captured the Island of Perim, Yemeni government sources told several news agencies.
Mokha lies 80 kilometers from Bab el-Mandeb, while the Perim Island is located in the strait itself.
The Red Sea has served as a key alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been disrupted amid the United States' war with Iran, sending global oil prices skyrocketing.
Houthi spokesperson Abdulsalam was cited by the Reuters news agency as saying that freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and the Strait remain safe and operations are limited to specific targets.
The Houthis have in the past targeted international shipping in the Red Sea, saying it is in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Houthi rebels accused Saudi Arabia of launching strikes on the southwestern province of Taiz.
"The Saudi enemy launched 10 strikes on the Dhubab district in western Taiz," the Houthis' Al-Masirah TV channel was cited by AFP news agency as saying.
Dhubab lies just south of Mokha.
Fighting intensifies between Houthis and Yemeni government
Fighting has intensified between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized government in recent months after four years of relative calm, with rebels intensifying efforts to solidify their control over the country's coastline.
The capture of Mokha is the Iran-backed militia's biggest territorial gain since a UN-brokered truce signed in 2022.
The Iran-backed Houthis control the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, as well as much of the more populous areas in the country's north and west.
The internationally recognized government has its headquarters in the southern city of Aden and receives considerable support from Saudi Arabia.
Yemen's civil war has killed over 150,000 people and brought others to the brink of famine.
Open Questions
- How will international forces respond to the threat on Red Sea shipping?
- Will Saudi Arabia expand airstrikes in response to Houthi advances?
